Day 8 (evening) proceedings of Athi Rudra Maha Yagna, Navarathri Homa and Durga Puja

Tuesday, October 20, 2015 – Evening: Swami arrived at the Yagna Shaala a little before 5:30pm, and happiness filled the hearts of all the devotees, as the Lord made His way to the dais. Being the Avatar Declaration Day, the combined prayers of all present was to safeguard everyone from the perils of Maya or illusion, one of the purposes for which God makes His avataric soujourn.

After soulful bhajans, the evening programme commenced in the Divine Presence with Veda chanting by school students from the Muddenahalli campus.

Young students from Muddenahalli campus reciting the Vedas

Soon after Sri Badri Narayanan commenced his talk, narrating some wonderful stories from the Bhagawatam, yet again. The glories of Lord Krishna are endless and timeless. When God's glory is sung with fervour and devotion, it awakens us from the deep slumber of mundane existence, and draws us close to divine consciousness. Sri Badri made a very profound statement which explains a great Truth – 'external Swabhava has nothing to do with eternal Swaroopa'. The wave of His hand can conquer everything. He is the essence of everything and irrespective of love or hate, good or bad, every single feeling, emotion, being – animate, inanimate, are all the Supreme Principle of God. Every person was soaked with divine bliss as they enjoyed every word of Sri Badri.

Sri Badri Narayanan immersing everyone in Krishna Leela

An instrumental music program, by the Alumni and boys from the Sri Sathya Sai College of Music and Arts, was offered at the Divine Lotus Feet thereafter. Though this college was started only three months ago, Bhagawan wanted to give them an opportunity to instill confidence in them. They rendered four songs at the Divine Lotus Feet and infact, Swami wanted more! He was very happy with their programme and blessed them profusely.

Two dance performances by two students, classically trained, was next in the offing. The dance items of Chi Gaurav M, Year 1 Bachelor of Arts from the Sri Sathya Sai Centre for Human Excellence and Chi Madhusudan, Grade 7 from the Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Kendra, focussed on the Cosmic Energy of Lord Shiva and the eternal principle. Both the dances were truly a feast to the eyes since there was lot of expression of devotion attached to them.

Madhusudhan, Grade 7, from Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Kendra

 

Gaurav M displays vivid expressions during the classical dance performance

Sri Sanjeeva Shetty, Trustee, Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva Trust was the blessed speaker for the evening. He stressed to all devotees that Bhagawan Baba is the Supreme Roopa, the form of Truth and reminded the audience of the two impeccable footprints that Swami has left on the sands of time – Selfless Love and Selfless Service. He appealed to all that we should follow Him in all sincerity.

Sri Sanjeeva Shetty addressing the gathering

Bhagawan blessed the devotees with His Divine Message for the Avatar day.

Summary of Divine Discourse:

God is formless. He incarnates on the earth with four objectives: first is 'shistarakshana', safeguarding the good people; 'dushtasikshana', educating the evil people; 'dharmasthaapana', establishment of dharma; and 'satyabodhana', teaching of eternal Truth. Of all these four objectives, the most important is the teaching of the eternal Truth. If we get rid of the duality by knowing the Truth, we will be able to experience great divine bliss. When Sai incarnated, He had three pledges; conferring joy on whole of humanity and protecting them, to remove the sufferings of the poor people, to handhold those who swerve from the path of dharma and bring them back on to the righteous path. Truth is My word, dharma is My path and prema or love is My principle which I teach.

If you want to develop love, it is necessary that you first recognise the Truth. As long as we continue to have the sense of difference between myself and others, we will be in the darkness of ignorance. On 20 October 1940, for the first time I taught this Truth – "I don't have any relationships. I don't have any attachments. I don't have any family. I came for My devotees."

When I built the mandir, nobody believed me. They asked me, "Why are you building such a big mandir?" I told them, "Not only this mandir but a very huge mandir will come up. Even that will not be enough." Whatever happened at that point of time, now also is happening.  Three years back when I came to Muddenahalli, I told Narasimhamurthy, "Don't think this is a small educational institution. It is going to be transformed into a big ashram. And people from all over the world would come to this ashram. We are going to build a huge auditorium and a bhajan hall." Because of the magnetic attraction of God, all the devotees are coming here. God will never be won by either ego or ostentation. Wherever there is self surrender, God will go there. I said yesterday also, "The magnetic power of God is here. Because of the rust and dust of ego and attachment, we are not getting attracted to God. When we get rid of ego and attachment and develop devotion, automatically we will be attracted to God."

This place is a very meritorious place. It is a land of penance. All this area was there in the Vishwamitra ashrama in Treta yuga. Rama and Lakshmana came here, fought against Thataki, and killed lot of demons. In future you are going to see, the whole place will be full of saints and sages. Not only that, people adorning high positions of authority like Presidents and ministers will come here. Therefore our students should not think that we are studying in a small educational institution. It is a sacred and noble ashrama. Wherever there is no 'shrama' or labour, that is ashrama. Where there is love, there is no trouble. When you develop love, you will not have any trouble. I don't have a physical body now, but through your bodies, I work. You should know that your body does not really belong to you; it is Swami's body, keep it sacred and pure.

Athi Rudra Maha Yajna is a sacred time. It is a time of transition. Kali yuga is ending and Sathya yuga is beginning. It is not Sathya yuga; it is Prema yuga, yuga of love. When we know the truth everybody belongs to us, we naturally develop love. When you develop love, you also experience bliss. Everything is love, love and love. Therefore only if you develop love, you can understand the Sai principle.

Swami has come here, thousands of people are coming here; they are regarding us, respecting us; thinking that way, you should not develop pride. With humility and obedience, you have to love everyone. To think that this hall is being built for Swami, is not complete truth. Only when I give lot of work, people think of Me. When they think the task is impossible, then they think of God.

I am going to build more houses here to accommodate the devotees. Next year all kinds of canteens will start here. Apart from canteens a hospital also will come here. For people staying here, all kinds of comforts and facilities will be available here itself. When I went and saw the hall a few days back, even I could not believe whether it could happen. Now I have gained complete faith that because our students are working, it will be complete.

Sathya Sai avatar will continue to be there for some years. But after some time, I will come back as Prema Sai, stay in this ashram and grant my darshan and even teach the Truth. A farmer, before the rains come, tills the land and keeps it ready; in the same way I am preparing this place. Not only I am getting the place ready, I am also cultivating your hearts. I am waiting to remove selfishness and self-interest from your hearts and sow the seeds of love.  Earlier that was the Declaration; today this is the Declaration.

Watch the proceedings below:

 

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